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In what was billed as a heavyweight prize fight between local district champions, Denton Guyer delivered a jab, a body blow and an uppercut in the first round to leave Aledo stunned and unable to recover in a 42-30 Wildcats win Friday in a Class 4A Division I area-round playoff at Northwest ISD stadium.
Guyer (10-2) scored three times in the first quarter and rolled up 312 yards rushing in the game as Aledo (10-2) struggled defensively and saw its bid for a fourth straight 4A state title end.
The Wildcats' running attack was led by D.J. Breedlove's 162 yards and Richard Whitaker's two touchdowns.
Quarterback Jerrod Heard had 120 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, plus 144 yards and a score through the air on 8-of-10 passing.
Several times the Bearcats looked as if they might claw back into the game, but Guyer held them at arm's length with an offense that built a 42-16 lead in the fourth quarter.
"I think our kids rose to the challenge," Guyer coach John Walsh said. "I think the mystique of Aledo and what they bring to the table added to it. I didn't have to do much coaching to get them fired up in the locker room. They were ready to go."
Guyer took its opening possession 66 yards in 10 plays, capped by Heard's 5-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats' defense then held the Bearcats to three-and-out on Aledo's ensuing drive and the Guyer offense went back to work with good field possession after a short punt into the wind.
Facing third-and-12, Ellis Jefferson went up high to retrieve a Heard pass to convert for a first down, and on the next play Whitaker bolted 15 yards up the gut to give Guyer a 14-0 lead.
Aledo looked to get a spark when Taco Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff to the 48-yard line, but the Bearcats were three-and-out again. They pinned Guyer at its 11, but after a tough 19-yard run by Breedlove, Josh Harris made a one-hand grab in stride down the middle of the field and raced 70 yards untouched to extend the Wildcats' lead to 21-0.
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